Community Cats Program
About Community Cats
Community Cats are unowned cats that live outdoors in the community. They may be feral or friendly, may have been born into the wild, or may be lost or abandoned pets.
Cat Depot’s Community Cats Program assists both animals and people around our community by providing a variety of services to improve the lives of free-roaming and feral cats.
Our community cats program provides assistance for free-roaming and feral cats, as well as aid for community members seeking help caring for both community and personal cats.
Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return
Cat Depot offers free Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) services for community cats.
TNVR is the proven practice of humanely trapping free roaming cats for spay/neuter, vaccination against rabies and other feline viruses, and then returning to their outdoor home to live out their lives. TNVR services are offered at no cost by Cat Depot to caretakers that are feeding and caring for outdoor, community cats in Sarasota and Manatee counties. TNVR has been shown to be the least costly most efficient and humane way of stabilizing outdoor cat populations.
TNVR Services Available
- TNVR Surgeries are scheduled every other Sunday. Reservations are required.
- TNVR service includes ear tip, spay or neuter surgery, FVRCP, Rabies.
- Optional services available at additional cost.
- Cats must arrive and leave in a humane trap.
- Cats must be kept in a safe place overnight following their surgery.
- Donations are always appreciated.
How to Schedule TNVR Services
Step 1: Complete the TNVR Application. You will be contacted by a staff member for further details and to confirm your appointment. Submitting the application does not guarantee service as appointments are first-come, first-serve.
Step 2: Download and complete the TNVR Medical Release Form.
Step 3: Please read the TNVR Take Home Instructions.
Call 941-366-2404 ext. 325 to schedule!
Humane Trap Rentals
Cat Depot offers humane trap rentals for $10/week. To apply to rent a humane trap, complete the Humane Trap Rental Application.
Food Bank
Cat Depot provides free cat food, litter and other supplies to community cat caregivers at our monthly Food Bank.
Adopt a Working Cat
Traditional home adoptions aren’t for every cat. Our Working Cat Program works to find outdoor homes for cats and kittens.
Benefits of Working Cats
- A Working Cat for your barn, outbuilding, stable, warehouse or other structure at no charge (adoption fee waived).
Free Rodent Control – Our working barn cats are ready to work by helping with rodent patrol.
A Healthy Companion – Our working cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and treated for fleas and other parasites.
Assistance and Advice – Cat Depot will provide all the information you need for acclimating your working cat to its new home.